Sleeping halo or cap



De.7,1954 F. R. LARKIN Em 2 6 6,007

SLEEPING HALO OR CAP Filed Jan. 50, 1951 FRANCES R. LARK/N 8 JEAN E. NEMITZ,

INVENTORS. HUEBNE'R, BEEHLEP; WORREL 8 HERZ/Gy ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent SLEEPING HALO OR CAP Frances R. Larkin, Puente, and Jean E. Nemitz, Altadena, Calif.

Application January 30, 1951, Serial No. 208,590 8 Claims. (Cl. 2-171 This invention relates to sleeping accessories, and more particularly to a form of combined sleep-cap and pillow adjustably secured to the head of a wearer in a predetermined permanent position for use.

Briefly, the instant device comprises a resilient haloshaped bun or annulus adapted to be secured substantially at the base of the skullcap of the wearer. Its size is sufiiciently excessive relative to the circumferential dimensions of the head that considerable air space is provided for ventilation except at the station of actual head support. The annulus is held in place preferably by means of suitable chin straps and an adjustable head piece. This and any other associated structure apart from the annulus is preferably of a loosely woven open-mesh material to afford maximum desired ventilation, and is likewise preferably removable for ready freshening or replacement. Each device is adaptable for all head sizes.

It is intended by the instant construction to provide a constant head support at the center of gravity thereof, thereby to permit rolling of the head as occurs during sleep, without loss of the support or diminution of its effectiveness. Conventional pillows heretofore employed support the head only imperfectly in some positions, and press against the face with undesirable cosmetic effect. As compared with such and other prior art head supports for sleeping, the instant device is an improvement in the following respects, set forth in association with corresponding objects of the invention, comprehending the following:

It is among the objects of this invention to enhance the healthfulness and restfulness of sleep.

It is another object of the invention to preserve the natural beauty and contour of the face and anatomy of the head.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved head support which relieves normal pillowpressure from the gums, teeth and jawbones, and skin and tissues associated therewith.

Other further objects of the invention include provision of new and improved adjustable means for accomplishing the herein specified desirable results; to relieve the wearer from hitherto imposed warmth and pressure of the pillow support; to provide new and improved sanitary and personalized head support for sleeping comfort, to avoid pillow allergies, to achieve greater composure, enhance natural beauty, minimize the requirements of orthodonture, and in addition, to provide means whereby arm support for the head is unnecessary, whether to add to pillow height or to achieve greater comfort.

It is moreover among the objects of the invention to provide a device to improve head support as herein indicated, and whereby the head can oscillate or rotate freely with the body in a prone position naturally without discomfort and without well-known pillow-punching.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of applicants sleeping halo as worn and used.

Figure 2 is a perspective view from the bottom side of the halo.

Figure 3 is a top perspective view thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation, a sleeping halo or cap generally designated by numeral 20, comprising a cap 21, a halo proper 22, and a chin securement 23.

The cap 21 is substantially skull-shaped and preferably formed of a loose netlike fabric, such as tulle, lace, veiling or the like, and depends continuously therearound to form optional earmufi portions 24-, and front and rear headband portions 25 and 26 respectively.

A band of ribbon or the like 27 is secured as by lines of stitching 28 to the top of the cap portion to form a hollow annulus adapted to receive a drawstring or ribbon 29 capable of adjustable securement to varying head sizes. An opening 30 is thus defined at the top of the cap, whose size will vary in accordance with the adjustment of the drawstring or ribbon 29.

At the bottom, a ribbon 31 is similarly secured to the net as by stitching 32, the ends 33 thereof forming ties to be secured under the chin. The remaining otherwise raw edge of the net is trimmed in any suitable fashion, as by means of ribbon 34.

The halo at 22 comprises a hollow doughnut-like covering 35 for a cushionlike preferably resilient annulus 36, the latter, depending upon the material of which it is made, being separately confined within a skin or inner cover 37. The outer cover 35 is secured circumferentially of the net, as by means of one or more lines of stitching 38, and is appropriately gathered or fitted by means of darts to provide a protective replaceable and ornamental casing for the annulus 36.

For replaceability, cleaning or the like, the said outer covering is provided with a row of any appropriate securing means such as snap fasteners 44. The outer covering may, for such removability, have overlapping ends 39. Zippers, buttons, hooks or similar means may be substituted for the snaps 44.

It will be noted that a space 50, substantially crescentshaped in plan view, as used, defines the clearance of the halo around the head of the wearer, except at station 41 of support; such stations will, of course, vary around the halo, depending upon whether the individual is sleeping on his back, side, etc.

An annulus 36 formed of Latex foam, sponge rubber of any desired density, down, or other conventional padding material if not sufiiciently resilient or otherwise capable of holding its generally rounded annular shape, is reinforced as by means of a springy wire 42, having the ends thereof secured as by means of a sleeve 43. The wire 42, in retaining its annular shape within the annulus 36, serves to support the latter and assures the preservation of adequate ventilation space 40 around the head and between the head and said halo. Without such space the halo lies close to the head, or fits snugly otherwise and becomes uncomfortable and sweaty or hot.

In the use of the instant device, the same is placed over the head, and the drawstring 29 adjusted so that the halo proper lies approximately below the skullcap, e. g., in a plane in common with the upper portion of the ears, so that the top of the head protruding therethrough bears a sufficient weight relationship to the lower portion of the head as to counterbalance the same, including the neck; thereby the chin and face are held above the pillow or mattress, and do not come in contact with the latter. The clliin straps are then adjusted to maintain the halo in p ace.

Obviously the adjustment at the top by means of the drawstring 20 adapts the device for any head size, and need not be readjusted for the same individual. The fact that the annulus is made sufficiently large so that adequate air space 40 is provided between the same and the head renders a single sizei. e., that sufficient to encompass the head of the largest prospective wearer with room to spareappropriate for all persons regardless of their head size.

The nature of the material employed to secure adequate ventilation of the cap functions simultaneously as a hairnet to keep the coiifure in place. Further, and in view of the fact that the wearers face does not touch a mattress or pillow, stains from night masks or other facial makeup, whether for day or night wear, are not transferred to the bedding, nor is any character of facial makeup disturbed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by'Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character .described, comprising a cap having a portion adapted to fit .over the :head .of

the wearer, a loosely fitting resilient doughnut of cushionlike material, including stiffening means therein :for retaining the same in substantiallycircular shape of greater diameter than and normally radially spaced from the head, said doughnut being secured about the cap 'at approximately the lower edge .of the latter for supporting the head in recumbent position as and for a pillow, and chin securing means, including .ear covering portions secured to the lower edge of the cap.

2. A combined sleeping cap and pillow comprising a cap having a crown portion adapted to cover the upper part of the wearers head, a doughnut-shaped pillow adapted to loosely fit the head of the wearer secured around the cap at a position adjacent the loweredge of said crown portion, said pillow adapted to support the head above a surface upon which the wearer lies, and chin securement means for tieing under the .chin of the wearer depending from and secured to the lowerportion of the crown portion for retaining'the pillow in 'a desired position encircling the head.

3. A device as characterized in claim 2, said crown portion having draw string means thereon adjacent the top thereof to adjust the size of the cap to position the pillow at a predetermined distance from the top of the head of the wearer.

4. A device as characterized in claim 2, saidpillow comprising cellular rubbery material.

5. A device as characterized in claim 2, a covering fabric comprising substantially a strip of fabric stitched to the crown portion to extend circumferentially therearound and spaced downwardly from the top thereof and externally thereof, securing means along an edge of said strip spaced from said stitching for releasable securement thereof over and around the pillow, adjacent end portions of said strip being in close relationship to cover said pillow thereat.

6. A device as characterized in claim 2, said pillow comprising a "resilient cushion-like material, 'a ring of spnngy wire positioned within the pillow at the center thereof, to retain said pillow in a circular condition as used, to provide and insure a ventilation space between the same and the head of the wearer adjacent and opposite the station of rest of the wearers head thereon when the wearer is in a reclining position.

7. In the device of claim 1, said portion having an opening at the top, drawstring means surrounding said opening and adapted to close said opening to a predetermined extent for adjusting the size of the cap relative to the head.

8. A net head covering comprising a cap having a close fitting upper crown portion, a fabric strip stitched along its median longitudinal line to the head covering along a lower portion of the cap, said fabric strip having complementary edges and cooperating fastening means .alongsaid complementary edges for securing the same together, said fabric strip adapted to receive and cover a'cushion-like annular member, and chin strap means on and depending from the lower edge of said .head coveringvfor securing the said cap'upon the head of the wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED 1ST ATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,200,157 Aarseth Oct. 3, 1916 1,581,750 'Mantilla Apr. 20, 1926 2,016,210 Mann Oct. 1, 1935 2,063,232 Davies Dec. 8, 19.36 2,533,526 Snyder Dec. 12, 1950 2,579,089 Price Dec. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 652,357 Germany Apr. 2, 1935 444,683 Germany Jan. 26, 1926 

